Great sound, great endurance: Sennheiser CX 400BT are pure listening pleasure

Sennheiser is introducing the CX 400BT True Wireless earphones in order to reach users on a budget. Without extras, they concentrate on sound and endurance, but also convince in the test with their high wearing comfort.

The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 are some of the best wireless earphones you can buy right now. However, you have to shell out around 300 euros for the precious plug, which is simply too much money for many users. That's why the German manufacturer has now released the CX 400BT True Wireless, which is 100 euros cheaper, but should sound just as good. ntv.de has tried out whether Sennheiser has succeeded or the austerity measures go too far.

If you want, you can adjust the controls in the app.

(Photo: kwe)

Visually, the cheaper earphones differ quite significantly from their expensive counterparts. Their touch outer sides are rectangular instead of round and apart from the company logo the plugs are presented in plain white or black. The charging case also looks completely different: It is smaller and Sennheiser has dispensed with the stylish fabric coating. Is that a disadvantage? Not at all. The simple design is pleasing and the quality of the case and earphones has not suffered from the simplification. In addition, the compact box is not only easier to stow away, it is also significantly lighter (37 grams) than the case for the expensive Sennheiser plugs (58 grams).

Excellent sound

The earphones weigh exactly 6 grams in both versions and the similarities are otherwise greater than you might think at first glance. The CX 400BT not only sit just as comfortably as the Momentum True Wireless 2, they actually sound just as good. On an airy stage, the earphones present accentuated, but neutrally tuned mids that are supported by powerful bass and complemented by crystal-clear highs with many details.

This is not a big surprise, after all, Sennheiser has installed the same 7-millimeter drivers as used in its high-priced sound artists. The cheaper earphones also support Bluetooth 5.1 and the aptX and AAC codecs as well. So here you don't have to cut corners at all.

The same applies to the app, which contains an extensive equalizer and enables the touch controls to be individually adjusted. Actually, there is no reason for this, as it is simple, but offers everything you need. And because the touch surfaces are very large, you rarely type on them.

Saved in the right places

What the Sennheiser CX 400BT True Wireless does not offer is active noise cancellation (ANC) and a function to amplify outside noise (Transparent Hearing). In addition, playback does not automatically pause when you remove the plugs.

The lack of ANC is not a big sacrifice in earphones, the other two cost-cutting measures just mean a little less convenience. It is more important that the CX 400BT are just as durable as the expensive plugs. Sennheiser specifies up to seven hours, and it is definitely more than six. The light box has less power reserves than the larger charging case. 13 additional hours should always be enough. After ten minutes in the case, the plugs last around an hour, a full charge takes around 1.5 hours.

Sennheiser has saved in exactly the right places, users don't have to compromise on sound, endurance or comfort. However, the manufacturer could have gone a little further down the price, for 150 euros the CX 400BT True Wireless would be a clear purchase recommendation. But recommended retail prices often don't last long and maybe the ear candy will soon be much cheaper.